Nativity Stones Interview

	Ricardo Montalban received the knighthood of Commander of the Papal Order of St. Gregory from Pope John Paul II. A memory of a lifetime. But Montalban prefers not to tell that story because there are better, more significant stories to tell. So when asked directly about the Nativity Stones he discusses his feelings with passion.
"It has been a unifying experience. So many Christians who express their faith so differently find they all (we all) share a common belief, a common truth, we all love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I see people from all walks of life whose love has been strengthened, whose faith has become extraordinary because of the Stones. I see them and hear from them: how they pray more easily and more often. Their prayers are filled with a new and deeper honesty."

"It is astonishing and a revolution. A new spirituality, and I feel deeply moved to have been able to help them find spiritual fulfillment."

"I have found and experienced this new spirituality as well. A few years ago, I had spinal surgery to try and alleviate some pain I have lived with from a debilitating back condition. One night I was lying in the hospital bed with incredible pain. Searching for comfort, I held a Nativity Cross in my hand and, focusing on the Stone in the center, The Stone that had witnessed the birth of Christ, I began to pray. ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name…’ I’ve prayed this all my life, sometimes automatically, without much thought."

"But when I got to ‘Thy will be done’, I stopped. At that moment I saw my whole faith called into question. Is this your will, God? This much pain? Do I accept your will, Lord? Holding the Nativity Cross-with its symbolic meaning of not just the death and resurrection of my Savior, but also his precious birth and life, represented by the Stone in the center, I said Yes. Thy will be done. I accept your will; Lord and I love you more than ever. And at that moment I was comforted in the knowledge that this was God’s will, and my pain became more bearable. And I have faith that in the future, He will lighten the weight of my cross."

Paul Maier:
"Jesus was born in a cavern that was used as a stable, not simply the sort of structure we see in crèches under Christmas trees. Bethlehem, and Israel, is perforated with caverns and caves, it would have been very logical to use one of these for purposes of shelter. National geographic recently ran a story in "Geographica", April 1999 which was titled Living Underground in Jordan especially about habitation caves which are still used today and date as far back as prehistoric times."

Carol Lovanna/Fox TV:
"If you go to the Church of the Nativity, which is built over this site, what do you see?"

Paul Maier:
"It's the oldest Christian church in the world in continuous use. The Emperor Constantine laid its foundation in 326 A.D. and then Constantine built the present structure over it. Below the high altar, you go down a flight of steps and come to a room which is 13 feet wide and 33 feet long. This is the Cave or Grotto of the Nativity."

Carol Lovanna Fox TV:
"We do want to mention something else that is rather interesting and get your take on it and that is The Nativity Stone Collection. In these crosses right here is a piece of the stone from the cave. Could you briefly comment on the credibility of this product?"

Paul Maier:
"Considerable care was taken to authenticate that they actually came from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. I have met the people associated with this project and can attest to the authenticity of this program, they are doing wonderful things."